The Qi Blog

Your chance to bid on tickets for the show

2011-01-25T15:57:00.001Z

Here's an opportunity for 2 tickets to the show and a back stage invite to the Green Room for a meet & greet with cast and crew:

Ebay Auction

All proceeds go to Marie Curie Cancer Care

Act now to avoid disappointment!

Set Themes

2010-04-01T12:38:00.002+01:00

And some more

2010-04-01T12:36:00.002+01:00

Some pictures from this series

2010-04-01T12:35:00.001+01:00

New Series Coming Filming in May

2010-04-01T12:33:00.000+01:00

Seeing as there's about to be a new series recorded in May, I thought it was time I updated my blog.
I've been so busy on other jobs, my fully fledged website www.setdesign.tv and Twitter (@jpgdesign) that this blog seems to have been neglected.

Apologies for that, so I'll post some long overdue photos of some of the themes from the current series:
(please keep nudging me to post more often, or follow me on Twitter and badger me)

New Series G

2009-05-01T20:42:00.002+01:00

The new series starts shooting at London Studios very soon.

Series G

I've seen the first three scripts and they are as marvellous as ever.

If you get the chance, try to come and see a live studio recording. They are even more entertaining than the show you see on TV.

If you've got tickets, post a comment here and let me know, and if you've been, let me know what you thought.

More details to follow soon.

Q.i Set Themes

2009-03-23T21:08:00.001Z

Here are a few set themes over the years...

New series filming in May

2009-02-05T08:22:00.006Z

Seeing as I haven't posted here for far too long, I thought I'd send a little update.

The next series begins filming in May, so if you don't already have tickets, head over to applausestore.com.
It may be too late, I'm not sure.

I also found some old bits and bobs that might or might not be of interest to anybody.

This is a little scribble on a call sheet for the additional desk scroll work, plus a construction drawing.

I'll try to dig out my original concept sketches before the show was made, that I presented to John Lloyd during our first set meeting. (not the ones at the start of the blog, those were just my own pre-scribbles)

Series F

2008-05-16T22:38:00.002+01:00

Q.i is now back in the studio for the forthcoming Series F.

Tickets might still be available from applausestore.com

If you're lucky enough to have a ticket to one of the best shows on TV, you might just see me there!

The New Series

2006-05-01T01:20:00.000+01:00

Sadly I missed the first 2 recordings because I was away on holiday.

We're now into our 5th recording (next week) and it's always such a delight to work on this series.

The show just keeps going from strength to strength and it is now a truly self perpetuating thing of delight, constantly fuelled by a team of highly enthusiastic and clever people (not me, the Production team and Qi elves, although I am highly enthusiastic) and superlative guests, fronted by one of the most intelligent beings on the planet, who is also enormously funny and charming.

I glanced over to the team in the Gallery the other day during a recording, and couldn't help noticing their beaming faces, almost constantly smiling, interrupted only by occasional huge belly laughs...not something you see on every production that's for sure, and something that makes you sit back quietly and reflect upon how fortunate you are to work on one of the finest TV quiz shows ever made.

If you don't have tickets to see the show (and hopefully there's still some left) I urge you to come down to a recording, where you'll be treated to hilarious moments, out-takes and little asides that don't make it on screen.

Series 4

2006-03-28T20:11:00.000+01:00

Series 4 begins filming just after Easter, so book in quick to get tickets if you haven't already done so (it may even be too late!)

The set has just come out of storage, and is in the process of being given a dust down by a team of highly skilled scenic dusters.

Every inch of its surface area is painstakingly cleaned, sterilised and re-painted in readiness for a brand new series.

As its Series 4, based on the letter D, we are only allowed to use Dulux paint. The set previously having been rubbed down with D grade sandpaper, by a carpenter called David.

By late April, the precious cargo will be traveling by road in a specially commissioned (D reg) articulated lorry, from Shepherds Bush to the South Bank.

The driver, Dan is only permitted to travel on roads with the letter D in it, which does however create logistical problems for future series.

New Series

2006-02-28T23:52:00.000Z

There's a new series (D) on the cards which starts filming end of April early May to be confirmed.

Anybody that's really keen on tickets to the show should head on over to www.applausestore.com.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

A view behind Alan's desk

2006-02-21T12:04:00.000Z

Not exactly interesting, but a little peek behind the set.

A Series 2 audience waits...

2006-02-21T12:03:00.000Z

Funny, it always looks so much bigger on telly!

New Qi Set Web Forum

2006-02-21T11:52:00.000Z

Qi website supremo Chris Gray has very kindly started up a Forum post about the Qi set....pop over and have a good look.

http://www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=53859

The very first sketch

2006-02-12T10:34:00.000Z

This is a scan of the very first rough sketch I made whilst dreaming up the idea for the set.

Also included is another rough sketch working out how I could get a Golden Section screen into a two-shot.

Ever Evolving

2006-02-12T10:01:00.000Z

There are some subtle differences between the 'Q' desk on Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3.

Let me know if you spot them.

(Series 1 at the bottom, Series 2 middle and Series 3 top image)

Answers to follow.....

The Finished Product

2006-02-12T09:58:00.000Z

Photos of the completed set for Series 1

The Set Construction

2006-02-11T17:33:00.000Z

These pictures show the construction phase of the set build.

If I can dig them out, I'll try to post some of my construction drawings and designs.

Q.i - Inspirations

2006-02-11T16:52:00.000Z

Here are a series of pictures that were part of the inspiration for my set design.

These were ultimately used on the 'rings' behind Stephen.

In no particular order of importance: The Rosetta Stone, The Dead Sea Scrolls, Egyptian Hieroglyphics and The Golden Section, which was used elsewhere on the set.

Other images not shown are Newtonian scientific formulae and an Astrology Chart.

You might find that Quite Interesting.